Fishery Officer (IOTC Data Officer)

2500489 Fishery Officer (IOTC Data Officer) 

Job Posting

: 14/Feb/2025

Closure Date

: 07/Mar/2025, 10:59:00 PMOrganizational Unit: NFI

Job Type

: Staff positionType of Requisition: Professional ProjectGrade Level: P-3

Primary Location

: Seychelles-VictoriaDuration: Fixed-term: 1 year with possibility of extensionPost Number: 2003788CCOG Code: 1H05

IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device
The length of appointment for internal FAO candidates will be established in accordance with applicable policies pertaining to the extension of appointments

• FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture
• Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented Members and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply
• Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold FAO's values
• FAO, as a Specialized Agency of the United Nations, has a zero-tolerance policy for conduct that is incompatible with its status, objectives and mandate, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination　　
• All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks
• All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality
• FAO staff are subject to the authority of the Director-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the Organization.

 

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through the FAO Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to MORE efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems, for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

 

Organizational Setting

FAO’s commitment to environmental sustainability is integral to our strategic objectives and operations.

 

The Fisheries Division (NFI) is responsible for the economic, social, institutional, governance and policy aspects of FAO's activities related to fisheries and aquaculture and their development, with particular emphasis on human well-being, food security and poverty reduction; post-harvest utilization, marketing and trade with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and well-being of fishing communities; collection, compilation, validation, trend analysis and dissemination of the best available and up-to-date fishery statistics and for the dissemination of FAO's information on all aspects of world fisheries and aquaculture.

The Division is also responsible for FAO's activities related to the management and conservation of the living aquatic resources used by fisheries and aquaculture, including the biodiversity and ecosystem maintenance, with particular emphasis on most vulnerable and threatened species and habitats; management of responsible fisheries and aquaculture in accordance with modern management standards and best practices; development of fisheries technology, with due regard to the protection of the environment, food security and well-being of fishing communities, including the safety of fishers and fishing vessels.

 

The Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) is a regional fisheries management organization (RFMO) established in 1993 under the provisions of Article XIV of the Constitution of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The IOTC's objective is to promote cooperation among the Contracting Parties (Members) and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties of the IOTC with a view to ensuring, through appropriate management, the conservation and optimum utilization of stocks covered by the organization's establishing Agreement and encouraging sustainable development of fisheries based on such. The IOTC implements its policy and activities through its secretariat, based in Seychelles.

 

The Commission has four key science-based functions and responsibilities which enable it to achieve its objectives. Briefly these include: reviewing the status of the stocks and to gather, analyse and disseminate scientific information (including catch and effort statistics and other relevant data); supporting research and development activities in respect of the stocks and fisheries covered by the IOTC; adopting, on the basis of scientific evidence, Conservation and Management Measures (CMM) to ensure the conservation of the stocks covered by the Agreement; and reviewing the economic and social aspects of the fisheries based on the stocks covered by the Agreement.

 

The position is located in Victoria, Seychelles in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) within the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division (NFI).

 

Reporting Lines

The Fishery Officer (IOTC Data Officer) reports to the Fishery Officer (Data Coordinator), IOTC..

 

Technical Focus

Tuna fisheries science and data management. The Fishery Officer (IOTC Data Officer) works in close cooperation with the Fishery Officer (Data Coordinator) ensuring that the data needs of the Commission are delivered.

 

Key Results

Research, technical analysis and project related services to support the delivery of programme projects, products and services.

 

Key Functions

• Researches, analyses and provides access to fisheries and aquaculture technical, social, economic, environmental, institutional and technology related data, and information and/or related policy issues to support the delivery of fisheries and aquaculture programmes, projects, products, publications and services.
• Produces a variety of technical data, statistics, information and reports, as well as input for technical documents and web pages.
• Provides technical, statistical, and/or analytical services on various studies, projects and initiatives, and/or assessments; provides technical backstopping to field projects.
• Participates in the development of improved/updated technical, statistical and/or analytical tools, methodologies, systems, databases and/or key social/economic/environmental/ nutritional and/or early warning indicators, etc.
• Participates in multidisciplinary teams and/or leads working groups/teams; collaborates with other Divisions/Offices/Centres on work groups and committees and promotes best practices.
• Collaborates in, provides technical backstopping to and ensures the quality/effectiveness of capacity development activities within Members, such as organizational development and individual learning events, including preparation of related information, learning materials and on-line tools.
• Promotes knowledge sharing and best practices at international meetings and conferences and influences partners in stakeholder consultations.
• Supports resource mobilization activities in accordance with the FAO Strategic Framework.

 

Specific Functions

• Participates in the coordination of the Commission's science activities.
• Develops materials and documents for the IOTC Scientific Committee and its subsidiary bodies including but not limited to project progress reports, species Executive Summaries and administrative papers.
• Participates in the collation, processing, curation and analysis of fisheries and biological data pertaining to the IOTC work, as well as in their dissemination.
• Estimates gaps or inconsistencies in all relevant data sets submitted by Contracting Parties and Cooperating Non-Contracting Parties (CPCs) or received from other official sources (observer programmes or data collection projects implemented at national/international level) by using appropriate statistical procedures and methodologies.
• Participates in the design and assessment of data collection and management initiatives in IOTC member countries, with a specific focus on artisanal and small-scale fisheries.
• Prepares training materials required for the implementation of data collection and management activities, including sampling and data entry manuals, and undertakes training of national staff on sampling, data entry and processing.
• Undertakes missions to sampling sites to ensure the accurate execution of data collection and other related activities.
• Monitors the reporting, validation and verification of data generated from sampling programmes; documents and reports procedures developed to process the information obtained through data collection activities.
• Prepares progress reports on data collection activities for presentation to meetings of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies.
• Performs other related duties as required.

 

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CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

 

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in fisheries science, biostatistics, computer science, data science or a related field.
• Five years of relevant experience in fisheries science, statistics, data management or related fields, with demonstrable expertise in applying modern data science tools and techniques to environmental datasets.
• Working knowledge (proficiency - level C) of English and intermediate knowledge (intermediate proficiency - level B) of another FAO official language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish).

Competencies

• Results Focus
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Building effective relationships
• Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

 

Technical/Functional Skills

• Work experience in more than one location or area of work, particularly in field positions.
• Extent and relevance of experience in fisheries or environmental statistics, including the application of advanced statistical methodologies.
• Proficiency in R statistical software, including experience in data processing, automation, analysis and visualization, as well as R package development and R Shiny dashboards.
• Proficiency in database modelling, API design, and integration of data pipelines for efficient data management and accessibility.
• Experience with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), including spatial data analysis and visualization.
• Familiarity with Java and/or Python, or other comparable programming languages to develop data management and dissemination systems and perform data analysis, machine learning and workflow automation tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement statistical workflows and scientific information systems to support fisheries or environmental data analysis.
• Experience in metadata management and developing documentation for datasets to ensure transparency and usability.

 

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Please note that all candidates should adhere to FAO Values of Commitment to FAO, Respect for All and Integrity and Transparency.
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GENERAL INFORMATION   • FAO reserves the right not to make an appointment • Extension of fixed term appointments is based on certification of performance and availability of funds • Appointment will be subject to certification that the candidate is medically fit for appointment, accreditation, any residency or visa requirements, and security clearances. 
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CONDITIONS OF SERVICE   A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, click on the following link: https://commonsystem.org/cp/default.asp
Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:
• Dependency allowances
• Rental subsidy
• Education grant for children
• Home leave travel
• 30 working days of annual leave per year
• Pension fund entitlements under the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund
• International health insurance; optional life insurance
• Disability protection   FAO encourages a positive workplace culture to increase inclusivity and diversity within its workforce. FAO applies measures in which all staff members contribute equally and in full to the work and development of the Organization. This includes:
• elements of family-friendly policies
• flexible working arrangements
• standards of conduct ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
HOW TO APPLY   • To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. We strongly recommend that your profile is accurate, complete and includes your employment records, academic qualifications and language skills;
• Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile;
• Once your profile is completed, please apply and submit your application;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided on your online profile;
• Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/
• Candidates may be requested to provide performance assessments and authorization to conduct verification checks of past and present work, character, education, military and police records to ascertain any and all information which may be pertinent to the employment qualifications;
• Incomplete applications will not be considered;
• Personal information provided on your application may be shared within FAO and with other companies acting on FAO’s behalf to provide employment support services such as pre-screening of applications, assessment tests, background checks and other related services. You will be asked to provide your consent before submitting your application. You may withdraw consent at any time, by withdrawing your application, in such case FAO will no longer be able to consider your application
• Only applications received through the FAO recruitment portal will be considered;
• Your application will be screened based on the information provided in your online profile
• We encourage applicants to submit the application well before the deadline date.

If you need help or have queries, please create a one-time registration with FAO’s client support team for further assistance: https://fao.service-now.com/csp

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